Skin Barrier Benefits of a Natural Moisturizing Factor and Lipids-Based Moisturizer for Clinically Sensitive Skin.

BACKGROUND

A novel topical cream moisturizer was designed to deliver immediate and long-lasting skin barrier improvements and to improve skin tolerability when used as adjunctive/complementary care by patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), rosacea, or cosmetic intolerance syndrome (CIS), reducing symptoms of skin irritation and sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cream moisturizer’s biological effects on critical epidermal proteins, lipids, genes, and clinical improvements in skin barrier strength and tolerability.

METHODS

Preclinical and clinical studies assessed the cream moisturizer’s effects on filaggrin, hyaluronic acid, and lipid levels; gene expression; skin barrier strength; skin surface hydration, texture/appearance, and tolerability; and patient quality of life (QoL) in the aforementioned conditions.

RESULTS

In preclinical studies, the cream moisturizer demonstrated significant increases in filaggrin (+77%), hyaluronic acid (+157%), and lipid (+30%) levels vs untreated controls (P<0.05), and upregulated key epidermal lipid pathways for skin barrier function. Clinical studies demonstrated progressive improvements in surface hydration, reductions in transepidermal water loss over 4 weeks, and sustained improvements in hydration after a 3-day regression period. Furthermore, daily application on clinically sensitive skin yielded significant improvements in skin look and feel without significant increases in irritation over 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The cream moisturizer improved skin barrier strength, skin tolerability, and patient QoL (with favorable aesthetics). These findings support the cream moisturizer as a preferred topical adjunctive product to support skin barrier health, particularly in AD, rosacea, and CIS.